JSX to establish information centers

JSX to establish information centers

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) will establish information centers in the country's major cities as part of its campaign to promote capital market activities.

Hasan Zein Mahmud, the JSX president, said yesterday that the campaign is a crucial step in improving the knowledge of the public about the capital market.

"The long-term goal of the campaign is to make local investors dominant here," Hasan said, adding that local investors should be able to gradually beat the dominance of foreign investors, who at present carry out over 70 percent of total transactions on the market.

Felia Salim, the bourse's director for development, said that the planned information centers will be opened in several cities this year.

"In what cities, well we don't know yet but a number of cities will definitely get capital market information centers this year," she said.

She said that cities such as Manado, Ujungpandang, Medan, Batam, Pontianak, Balikpapan and Denpasar will be soon be surveyed.

Felia said that the opening of information centers is aimed at optimizing the bourse's domestic campaign, which is now carried out by holding the "clinic for going public," a free capital market consultation service.

Besides providing information on capital market activities, the planned information centers will also hold routine consultation forums, she said, adding that local businessmen and intellectuals will be also involved in the establishment and operation of such centers. (hen)